JACKSONVILLE – There is talent on the front seven. A lot of it.
That’s a positive for teams seeking defensive disruption in the 2023 NFL Draft. There are potentially productive players at linebacker and defensive line throughout Round 1 and beyond — primarily on the edge.
It may not be elite, but it has potential.
“There are plenty of guys at edge, but it’s one of those things where no one stands out,” NFL Media and Jaguars Media analyst Bucky Brooks told jaguars.com recently. “There is good, but there’s not great. There’s not Dwight Freeney, Myles Garrett, Julius Peppers … none of those guys.”
As is often the case, edge rusher is a pre-draft focus among analysts. NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah said it’s a good group – and that it will be major storyline during Round 1 Thursday night.
“There’s a zillion of them, and talking to GMs (general managers) and coaches around the league, there’s a lot of different opinions,” Jeremiah said. “The order of these edge rushers come off the board is going to be pretty fun to follow.”
Will Anderson of Alabama and Tyree Wilson of Texas A&M are generally considered the ’23 draft’s two best edge players, with Anderson a possibility to be the first non-quarterback selected. Some analysts believe Wilson could push to be selected ahead of Anderson.
“They’re good players,” Brooks said. “Anderson is the more productive player. The production is there and he’s a proven commodity even though he may not have the blue-chip trait when it comes to explosiveness off the ball or first-step quickness.”
The class isn’t considered as strong elsewhere on the front seven, with Matt Miller of ESPN calling it a “much deeper defensive end class than it is defensive tackle,” and ESPN’s Jordan Reid calling linebacker and defensive line “Two of the weaker positions” in the draft.
Jalen Carter, a defensive tackle from the University of Georgia, is widely regarded as a top 10 selection despite off-field issues. He is the lone tackle or inside linebacker…
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